Register-actuating mechanism



(No Model.)

P. D. GRULL. REGISTER ACTUATING MECHANISM.

N0. 538,240. Patented Apr. 30, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEETGE.

PETER D. ORULL, OF HAMILTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO PHILIP G. BERRY,

OF SAME PLACE.

REGISTER-ACTUATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,240, dated April30, 1895.

Application filed February 1, 1894- Serial No. 498,699. (No model.)

To all 1072 0777, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER D. CEULL, of Hamilton, Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Register-Actuating Mechanism, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of actuating devices that are adaptedto propel the registers of hydraulic elevators, and the object of myimprovement is to prevent tampering that might falsify the count of theregister, and to compensate for the lateral variations in the motion ofthe elevator cab due to excessive wear or careless fitting of the parts.These objects are attained in the following described manner, asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustratesan end elevation of the device with register attached, and shows aportion of the driving strap; Fig. 2, a rear view of its interior; Fig.3, an edge view of its interior; Fig. 4., a front elevation; Fig. 5, afront view of its interior, and Fig. 6 a portion of the driving strap;and Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the device taken through the centerof the case.

In the drawings A represents a closed metal case, preferably cylindricalin form, and constructed with bosses on its side that contain slots atand b on a line extended tangentially through the case. Ratchet wheel Bis journaled within the case with its front axisc projecting through theface of the case, and its rear axis stepped or journaled in the base ofthe case. The front of the axis is provided with a transverse slot d inwhich the main or first journal of the register is coupled by means ofthe flat projection G. Sprocket wheel O is loosely journaled on the rearaxis of the ratchet wheel and within the case. Said wheels B and C maybe each rotated independently of the other. Pawls e andf are locatedwithin the case and are actuated by the respective springs g and h toengage with the teeth on the ratchet wheel B. Pawl e is pivotallysecured on the inner side of the face of. the case and pawlf ispivotally secured on the face of the sprocket wheel O. Said pawls arepermitted to pass each other without contact during the rotation of thesprocket wheel as they move in different planes.

Driving strap D consists of a thin narrow band or strap of flexiblemetal, preferably steel. It is perforated throughout its length by aseries of equidistant openings and is adapted to rotate the sprocketwheel by successively engaging the sprockets thereof in said openings.Said strap is admitted to engagement with the sprocket wheel through theslots in the case, and spans an elevator shaft vertically, under sometension in which position it is securely fastened by its ends to thewalls or other appurtenances of the shaft. The smooth even surface ofthe strap permits the case to be reciprocated lengthwise thereon easilyand smoothly while the size of the strap substantially fills the spaceof the slots and prevents the insertion of a wire or other instrument tothe interiorof the case, by which the pawls might be disengaged and thecount of the register falsified.

The case A is fastened to the movable cab or platform of the elevator bymeans of flange E and in the line of the driving strap. As the cab isreciprocated up and down, the sprocket wheel is rotated by the drivingstrap in opposite directions respectively. During the rotation of thesprocket wheel 0 in one direction it actuates the ratchet wheel by meansof the engagement of pawlftherewith. In the opposite direction ofrotation the pawl f rides idly over the teeth and the ratchet wheel isretained motionless by the engagement therewith of pawl e.

Any of the well known forms of counters or registers may be coupled tothe axis of the ratchet wheel and be actuated either by the upward ordownward motion of the cab to indicate the distance of its travel.

The relative ratio of the parts of the register or of the actuatingdevice may be such that the pointers of the register will count thedistance traveled by the cab in lineal feet, from which may be computedthe quantity of water, say in gallons, that has been consumed in itspropulsion.

One form of register F is shown in the drawings as attached to the faceof the casein such position as to be operated by the axis of the ratchetwheel, whence motion is imparted through a train of gear wheels to therespective pointers 011 its face that move in such relation to eachother as to indicate on the dials the number of rotations of the ratchetwheel or the distance in feet traveled by the cab.

The ordinary rack and pinion device necessitates the cab to travel onits ways with such precision, to keep the pinion in engagement with therack throughout its length, that it is easily deranged and its partsaccessible to tampering.

The use of a cable or rope on a sheave is not sufficiently positive inits action, and is liable to slip and to falsify the count of theregister.

A sprocket or other chain, owing to irregular surfaces, requires suchwidth of slots for its passage as to admit the insertion of tamperinginstruments to the pawls.

The flexible metallic driving strap obviates these objections. It ispositive in its action, occupies the entire space of the slots to theinterior of the case, permits the case to reciprocate smoothly thereon,and is sufficiently flexible to accommodate itself to the lateralvariations in the motion of the platform.

By making the parts as above described they can be made very cheaply asthey can be cast with most of the holes and the slots at and b in themso as not to need further handling except to drill and tap the fewholes. required to hold the parts together.

In assembling the parts the register is secured to the face of the case,preferably so that it will project'beyond the edge of the case over theslots through which the strap passes, thereby throwing the face of theregister out from the elevator car so that it can be readily seen. Theend of the shaft of the first register-wheel projects loosely throughthe central opening of the case and is provided with means for beingdetachably secured to the end of the axle of the ratchet wheel B. Theratchet wheel is then put in place with the pawl g in engagementtherewith and the sprocket wheel 0 is placed on the rear axis with thepawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel. The base of the case is thensecured in place and the device is ready to be secured upon the car orother part to which it is to be applied by means of the flange E. As theparts are preferably secu red together by means of screws which areinserted from the rear it is impossible to remove the register or gainaccess to its interior for changing or falsifying it except by takingeeaaeo the entire device apart which is very difficult owing to the factthat the heads of the screws are toward the wall of the elevator shaft.

Having fully described my improvements, what I claim as my invention,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a case, one side of 'which is provided withslots, of a ratchet wheel journaled therein, the front axis of whichprojects loosely through the face of the case,a sprocket wheel journaledloosely upon the rear axis of the Wheel, a pawl upon the face of thecase and a pawl upon the sprocket wheel, each in engagement with theratchet wheel and adapted to move in different planes, and a registerdetachably secured to the face of the case and to the axis of theratchet wheel, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a base, provided with a flange, of asubstantially cylindrical case secured thereto, the wall of which isslotted at two points, in line with each other, a ratchet wheeljournaled within the case, the front axis of which is slottedtransversely, a sprocket wheel mounted loosely upon the rear axis of theratchet wheel and having its periphery substantially in a line with theslots in the wall of the case, means for preventing the ratchet wheelmoving except in one direction, a register upon the face of the case,the shaft of the first wheel of which is provided with a flat projectionto fit within the slot of the axis of the ratchet wheel, substantiallyas set forth.

The combination, with a case of cylindrical form, the side or wall ofwhich is provided with two slots extending from one edge substantiallyto the opposite edge, of a sprocket Wheel journaled within the case, theperiphery of which lies in a line between the two slots, a dial forregistering the rotation of the sprocket wheel in one direction, and aflat strap through the slots, the edges of which are continuous orunbroken and the central portion is provided with perforations, thewidth and thickness of the strap being such as to substantially fill theslot, and the teeth upon the sprocket wheel being adapted to fit withinthe perforations of the strap, the portion of the case in front of thestrap being continuous or unbroken, whereby access to the interior ofthe case therethrough is prevented, substantially as set forth.

PETER I). GRULL.

Witnesses:

JAMEs E. HANCOCK, GEO. '1. EARHEART.

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